Published: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 10:21 p.m.

A lot has changed in 50 years. For Blue Ridge Community Health Services, the change has been expansive.

In 1961, Claire Burson started a migrant health clinic. Two years later, the seasonal clinic became a nonprofit helping nearly 2,000 migrant workers.

Today, the clinic has morphed into Blue Ridge Community Health Services and is serving 20,000 residents in Henderson County. The health center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The original purpose of the Migrant Council of Henderson County was to serve a population from the West Indies that came seasonally to pick the local fruit. Funds from the Migrant Health Act, passed in 1961, allowed the clinic to operate as a migrant health center, CEO Jennifer Henderson said.

Ten years after starting the clinic, Burson stepped aside as director. Barbara Garrison, a nurse, took over as director and guided the clinic through nearly three decades of growth.

That growth was aided by community health center grants that began to surface in the early ’80s, Henderson said. Before that, the clinic was limited in operations, Garrison added.

“When the money ran out, we closed the clinic,” she said.

At the time, the clinic operated on a small federal grant and had only between eight and 10 employees.

“It was a challenge, of course,” Garrison said.

It was her goal to turn the seasonal clinic into a year-round clinic, which was accomplished in 1988. Since then, BRCHS has continued to grow and meet the different needs of the poor. Of the 20,000 patients the center saw last year, an estimated 13,000 were uninsured.

The original intent of the clinic was to address pressing needs in the community, Henderson said. The needs were education, housing and the sanitation of the work environment in the fields.

“We continue to love that mission,” Henderson said. “One of the things BRCHS has always done is respond to the needs of the community.”

That has been a primary change over the last 50 years, Henderson said. It hasn’t just been a change of location, name or employee number — the needs of the community have changed.

Today the health center is focused on the uninsured and is pushing to help in the arena of mental health. The center has nine locations to help patients across the county, including a dental office and four school-based health centers.

Garrison is proud of what the clinic grew into.

“I think it’s critically important,” she said, adding that Henderson County is “fortunate” to have it.

<p>A lot has changed in 50 years. For Blue Ridge Community Health Services, the change has been expansive.</p><p>In 1961, Claire Burson started a migrant health clinic. Two years later, the seasonal clinic became a nonprofit helping nearly 2,000 migrant workers.</p><p>Today, the clinic has morphed into Blue Ridge Community Health Services and is serving 20,000 residents in Henderson County. The health center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.</p><p>The original purpose of the Migrant Council of Henderson County was to serve a population from the West Indies that came seasonally to pick the local fruit. Funds from the Migrant Health Act, passed in 1961, allowed the clinic to operate as a migrant health center, CEO Jennifer Henderson said.</p><p>Ten years after starting the clinic, Burson stepped aside as director. Barbara Garrison, a nurse, took over as director and guided the clinic through nearly three decades of growth.</p><p>That growth was aided by community health center grants that began to surface in the early '80s, Henderson said. Before that, the clinic was limited in operations, Garrison added.</p><p>“When the money ran out, we closed the clinic,” she said.</p><p>At the time, the clinic operated on a small federal grant and had only between eight and 10 employees.</p><p>“It was a challenge, of course,” Garrison said.</p><p>It was her goal to turn the seasonal clinic into a year-round clinic, which was accomplished in 1988. Since then, BRCHS has continued to grow and meet the different needs of the poor. Of the 20,000 patients the center saw last year, an estimated 13,000 were uninsured.</p><p>The original intent of the clinic was to address pressing needs in the community, Henderson said. The needs were education, housing and the sanitation of the work environment in the fields.</p><p>“We continue to love that mission,” Henderson said. “One of the things BRCHS has always done is respond to the needs of the community.”</p><p>That has been a primary change over the last 50 years, Henderson said. It hasn't just been a change of location, name or employee number — the needs of the community have changed.</p><p>Today the health center is focused on the uninsured and is pushing to help in the arena of mental health. The center has nine locations to help patients across the county, including a dental office and four school-based health centers.</p><p>Garrison is proud of what the clinic grew into.</p><p>“I think it's critically important,” she said, adding that Henderson County is “fortunate” to have it.</p><p>For more information on BRCHS, visit www.brchs.com.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>